born on the 12th of May
Showing posts with label birthday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label birthday. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Thursday, February 14, 2013
a valentine birthday
 |
| Grandma and I |
My sister treated me to sandwich, donut, and coffee on the night before my birthday. It was part of her birthday gift. It has been a while since we spent cafe time together with just the two of us. I brought a book but did not get to read it.
Next morning was my breakfast treat at McNeighbor.
Then it was a special home-cooked lunch at my parents' house where I received the loveliest gifts. Afternoon was spent visiting my grandmother, watching more Supernatural, then a nap, then reading, then I treated the family to dinner at my dad's latest favorite chinese restaurant.
Lots of happy greetings and wishes on Facebook and by text message. Everyone who really mattered to me sent a greeting. I am joyful!
I'l post my gifts tomorrow as I need light to take photos and it is very late evening.
Nobody sent me a Valentine-related gift. No suitors or secret admirers revealing themselves.
I did get a small project though, and I will be working tomorrow afternoon which will let me pay some of this month's bills.
I am toying with an idea for a practical solution to getting more projects but I need to consider it carefully. It's on territory that I never really felt right in but it's an option. I'll see where the consideration takes me. I really want to go to England.
My three birthday wishes:
1) a happy steady source of sufficient income (something that will make me wake up eagerly in the morning so I can get to work)
2) a perfect husband (perfect for me, not perfect template)
3) a long visit to England
They say you should keep your wishes secret, but some say you should declare them to the Universe. I choose to do the latter to stir up the energies towards their fulfillment.
Any wishes you care to share? :)
Saturday, February 9, 2013
P for Valentine
Head over to my art blog and see some of the reasons I've been too busy to post here. I also had two projects approved so I will have less time for the fun stuff. On the other hand, I get to pay my bills. One day, soon, I will pay my bills with money made from the fun stuff.
P for Valentine. Because I will most likely spend that day in my Pajamas. With a Pen, Pencil, or Paintbrush making magic over Paper. Or absorbed in the Pages of a book.
P could also mean Pride, Prejudice, and Pemberley. But such things happening to me will take a bit more magic than I have on hand, even if it is going to be my birthday. Still, it would not hurt to wish.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
post-birthday post
That was probably the calmest birthday ever, filled with quiet happiness and serene joy. I celebrated it in the simplest way. I started the day with no expectations.
Instead I focused on gratitude --- for being alive, for being healthy, for having my family close by, for having kept a handful of friends who equal the worth of a thousand, for having a home of my own, for having enough to live by, for being continuously inspired, for being always helped at the exact moment of need, for all the clues and way-signs placed along the path of my creative journey, and for all the other beautiful things, both big and small, that make this life just a little bit easier and happier.
At around 1AM of February 14, before going to bed, I opened my grandma's gift which turned out to be a boxful of dolls for using in my creative crafts. She knew I've been wanting these ever since I saw her use the dolls for her own projects.
I woke up hours later with a light and cheerful heart. And for the first time I actually took time and care to dress up (in previous years I was fussy about being fussy about my birthday)-- and wore a heart-shaped ring and my heart-designed shoes, and a bright pink mini-dress.
There were a few snags, like my baking oven suddenly breaking down so I was not able to make my family-famous old-fashioned strawberry pie. After a moment I thought, maybe today what I am meant to do is to receive. I have been thinking so much of what I could give and share with others on my birthday that I was probably unconsciously fussing about it. Maybe I was supposed to just sit back and let things unfold without me always trying to have my input.
The plan was to visit my grandma so she could give her birthday blessing. She prepared a simple lunch of home-cooked adobo and my cousin Jennie also showed up with delicious spicy sausage pasta. Lunch was heartwarming and stomach-filling! And unlike a real party where I had to entertain and socialize, we all settled into our own little corners in my grandma's house to do our own thing. My sister, cousin Jennie, and I found our coffee corner in the kitchen while my Grandma crafted and my mom played with our niece and my aunt washed the dishes.
One of the things I have stopped expecting are surprise (especially wrapped) gifts -- and suddenly they were there!
We stayed out until almost midnight, and then I was home. My birthday was filled with simple joys and surprises, and I didn't have to spend anything. No rushing, no fussing, no wishful thinking, no expectations.
Hello, New Year of My Life.
Instead I focused on gratitude --- for being alive, for being healthy, for having my family close by, for having kept a handful of friends who equal the worth of a thousand, for having a home of my own, for having enough to live by, for being continuously inspired, for being always helped at the exact moment of need, for all the clues and way-signs placed along the path of my creative journey, and for all the other beautiful things, both big and small, that make this life just a little bit easier and happier.
At around 1AM of February 14, before going to bed, I opened my grandma's gift which turned out to be a boxful of dolls for using in my creative crafts. She knew I've been wanting these ever since I saw her use the dolls for her own projects.
I woke up hours later with a light and cheerful heart. And for the first time I actually took time and care to dress up (in previous years I was fussy about being fussy about my birthday)-- and wore a heart-shaped ring and my heart-designed shoes, and a bright pink mini-dress.
There were a few snags, like my baking oven suddenly breaking down so I was not able to make my family-famous old-fashioned strawberry pie. After a moment I thought, maybe today what I am meant to do is to receive. I have been thinking so much of what I could give and share with others on my birthday that I was probably unconsciously fussing about it. Maybe I was supposed to just sit back and let things unfold without me always trying to have my input.
The plan was to visit my grandma so she could give her birthday blessing. She prepared a simple lunch of home-cooked adobo and my cousin Jennie also showed up with delicious spicy sausage pasta. Lunch was heartwarming and stomach-filling! And unlike a real party where I had to entertain and socialize, we all settled into our own little corners in my grandma's house to do our own thing. My sister, cousin Jennie, and I found our coffee corner in the kitchen while my Grandma crafted and my mom played with our niece and my aunt washed the dishes.
 |
| grandma with her great-granddaughter |
 |
| my mom with my niece |
 |
| mine are the ones with heart. the big and small matching pairs belong to my cousin Jennie and her daughter Jaine -- yes, she hand-designed them too. it runs in the family. |
 |
| these had two pairs of pretty shorts and a beautifully patterned shower curtain that perfectly matched my home |
 |
| this is a brand-new LP from a friend who knew i had a stash of vintage ones that are all old and scratchy |
 |
| and this may strike you as funny but i LOVE these shoes from our very own shop so my mom decided to buy it from the shop and give it to me so that i get to have it and also make money from it :D |
We got home at around 4PM and I wanted a nap. My sister and I planned to step out during the evening to grab some dessert.
While relaxing at home, someone dropped by unexpectedly with:
 |
| Three Red Long-Stemmed Roses! Believe it or not, the first ever three red roses in my entire life. (No, I am not counting the roses I received from my high school students when I was a high school teacher.) |
 |
| The roses came with a big scrapbook kit. Did you notice that my gifts are beginning to have a theme of being creativity-inspired? |
I had dinner at my parents' home during which we shared leftovers from my kitchen and theirs, and then my sister and I stepped out for dessert and coffee. We ran into a lot of dating couples and women with huge bouquets in their arms but I was ever so happy to be finally beyond getting envious or jealous.
Hello, New Year of My Life.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
a happy day and i think i know why
I have declared today a no-work day. No internet either. I only briefly connected to confirm a meeting schedule for tomorrow but that was it.
Last night I had dinner at my parents' house and stayed all the way until today. It was a rather spontaneous decision, and it also felt like something I needed to do. I needed to be away from my home which is currently in transition. I needed to be away from the distraction of too much familiarity and the lull of habits.
Kendo practice last night was surprisingly satisfying and I even surprised myself. I slept like a baby, for the first time since I can no longer remember when. With my breakthrough (I think that's what it was) in kendo, a lot of other things also gained clarity. Like something clicked into place and as a result other things started to slide towards their own proper spaces.
Or it could just be some form of pre-birthday thing. It will be my birthday next week.
I woke up this morning with a light heart and a positive energy. I cooked myself breakfast and wrote my morning pages while I ate. Then I mapped my creative journey on two pages of a sketchbook - it's the first time I did this and it was very helpful and inspiring. I identified what I could work on. The rest I left to faith. Then I spent a couple of hours reading quietly in the sunny backyard, making notes, opening myself up to the questions that come up in the book I was reading (Foolsgold by Susan G. Wooldridge).
Then a hearty home-cooked lunch with my family.
Then I went to help my sister design shoes for selling. We were at it the whole afternoon and our fingers ached but it was one of the most fulfilling and satisfying day ever. It was the first time I designed shoes because the previous times I took care of inventory lists and I also had Other Business work.
We were quiet sometimes and we were laughing out loud sometimes. But we kept on creating and crafting and thinking up pretty thoughts. I wished I didn't have that meeting tomorrow so I could have done another pair and maybe stayed over for another night. As I sewed, more ideas came to me and my heart leaped with excitement and oh, I could not wait to get to that point when I would just be creating and crafting all these pretty things and they will be selling like anything and we will be happily living on what we earned.
This is how it would feel everyday when I am living the creative life I have always dreamed of.
Soon, soon...
Last night I had dinner at my parents' house and stayed all the way until today. It was a rather spontaneous decision, and it also felt like something I needed to do. I needed to be away from my home which is currently in transition. I needed to be away from the distraction of too much familiarity and the lull of habits.
Kendo practice last night was surprisingly satisfying and I even surprised myself. I slept like a baby, for the first time since I can no longer remember when. With my breakthrough (I think that's what it was) in kendo, a lot of other things also gained clarity. Like something clicked into place and as a result other things started to slide towards their own proper spaces.
Or it could just be some form of pre-birthday thing. It will be my birthday next week.
I woke up this morning with a light heart and a positive energy. I cooked myself breakfast and wrote my morning pages while I ate. Then I mapped my creative journey on two pages of a sketchbook - it's the first time I did this and it was very helpful and inspiring. I identified what I could work on. The rest I left to faith. Then I spent a couple of hours reading quietly in the sunny backyard, making notes, opening myself up to the questions that come up in the book I was reading (Foolsgold by Susan G. Wooldridge).
Then a hearty home-cooked lunch with my family.
Then I went to help my sister design shoes for selling. We were at it the whole afternoon and our fingers ached but it was one of the most fulfilling and satisfying day ever. It was the first time I designed shoes because the previous times I took care of inventory lists and I also had Other Business work.
We were quiet sometimes and we were laughing out loud sometimes. But we kept on creating and crafting and thinking up pretty thoughts. I wished I didn't have that meeting tomorrow so I could have done another pair and maybe stayed over for another night. As I sewed, more ideas came to me and my heart leaped with excitement and oh, I could not wait to get to that point when I would just be creating and crafting all these pretty things and they will be selling like anything and we will be happily living on what we earned.
This is how it would feel everyday when I am living the creative life I have always dreamed of.
Soon, soon...
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
unexpected turns of the day
The plan was:
Go to the market to buy fabrics and plain shoes. Then go to my parents' house to do Other Business work and finish it by 5PM -- I wanted a no-distraction environment and not have to prepare my meals so I could finish everything early.
What actually happened:
I was not feeling too well when I woke up. I think my brain was trying to slowly get into work mode and so much of me was resisting it. We got to the market at least half an hour later than planned. Since I did not get to eat breakfast (because I was feeling sick-ish) I suggested brunch before the buying. So we got a very cheap but very delicious meal for two for only Php120.00. As we were polishing off our plates, a woman walked by selling freshly swirled ice cream in cups for Php10.00.
Go to the market to buy fabrics and plain shoes. Then go to my parents' house to do Other Business work and finish it by 5PM -- I wanted a no-distraction environment and not have to prepare my meals so I could finish everything early.
What actually happened:
I was not feeling too well when I woke up. I think my brain was trying to slowly get into work mode and so much of me was resisting it. We got to the market at least half an hour later than planned. Since I did not get to eat breakfast (because I was feeling sick-ish) I suggested brunch before the buying. So we got a very cheap but very delicious meal for two for only Php120.00. As we were polishing off our plates, a woman walked by selling freshly swirled ice cream in cups for Php10.00.
Then we got the plain shoes and the fabrics for the next batch of projects. On the way home we made a side trip to my grandma's (unplanned - we thought since we were passing by the same street we might as well drop by).
 |
| As to be expected, my grandmother has transformed her home in time for Valentine's Day. |
 |
| She has also handcrafted items for selling and gifting. Little dolls adorn recycled plastic bottles that have been redesigned to be container bowls. |
 |
| She kept a few pieces for her own home. This is her favorite. |
 |
| She was also excited to give me her birthday gift. Yay! |
 |
| And she gave me my own dolled decor as an extra Valentine gift. :) |
Then I had to rush home because the cable guy was in the lobby to check my cable box which has not been working for three days. I ended up going home, having the cable fixed, and then falling into a tired nap. It was mid-afternoon when I finally got back to my parents' house.
 |
| My sister and I had rice cakes and coffee for afternoon snack. |
I tried getting started at work while my sister started on redesigning the shoes. Oh, how I envied her!
And then I found out that my dad had been to the post office and picked up a package for me -- my other Etsy order of knitting needles! Well, at least that's one bright spot as I struggled to concentrate on getting a report done.
My mom called us to dinner at around 7PM and as we ate the TV was on and we all ended up watching The Accidental Husband.
I decided to head for home and try finishing the work before going to bed. It was already 9PM. My sister was stil working on another pair of shoes when I left.
And now I am blogging as I take a break from the work that has been pushed away in so many ways for so many times. *sigh* I must get this done then I can schedule some serious crafting time with my sister.
How did your day turn out?
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
after every storm
I did my Client presentation this morning, the fruit of hard mental labor and sleepless nights. I wore happy shoes to boost my energy.
Every time, without fail, I come home and I am wobbling with exhaustion and I would crawl to bed, sleep for a few hours troubled by displaced dreams, then wake up ravenously hungry and starting to feel really ill.
As of this moment I am experiencing all the signs of an oncoming fever : the too-warm feeling behind my eyes, the ache in the throat when swallowing, the too-sensitive feeling on the skin, the body aches, the slightly clogging nose, and of course, the slowly creeping chills and the increased temperature in my breath.
It's like all the adrenaline that has kept me up has suddenly run out or deserted me. And now I will need at least a full day's rest to get back on track.
This pattern has to change. I will break this vicious cycle.
For starters, I have watched myself work for the past week and I saw how an Other Business project in full swing can just sweep everything I have put in place and scatter them into chaos. I have repeatedly tried different ways to fix this but so far nothing has been effective enough. I will resolve this.
I have also experienced a wave of epiphanies as I pushed myself to focus on completing the presentation slides on time. This treasure of insights is motivating me now to fight the fever so I can start doing things to make my creative journey progress better.
My birthday is around the corner in a couple of weeks. I was originally planning to host a small gathering of friends but after my epiphanies I have decided to put the party off and do it later in the year -- still with the birthday occasion but it will also be a re-birthday event, a super perfect thing to do on this Year of Rebirth.
As a reward for completing the recent Other Business project, I subscribed to Indie Business : Compass and I can't wait to start with it. I also purchased Kelly Rae Robert's Flying Lessons: Part One. At some point I am beginning to see the same formula and patterns in what they are all teaching and sharing but what is enlightening is how they do it. Each teacher comes from a unique background and taken together, they point me to clues regarding my own unique story. Also sometimes, one teacher is better in driving home one point, while another excels in making a particular lesson crystal-clear.
I feel a bit sad about having to miss kendo practice tonight but I will make up for it for the whole 20 days before I leave for Hong Kong. Seriously. Because deep deep deep down inside I do care whether I pass the exam or not. Even when I keep telling other people it doesn't really matter.
I will sign off now. I'm starting to get really headachy. Will have an early night and wake up all brand new tomorrow morning!
Love and hugs to everyone!
 |
| happy shoes from our little shop. we're making and selling more this month! :) |
As of this moment I am experiencing all the signs of an oncoming fever : the too-warm feeling behind my eyes, the ache in the throat when swallowing, the too-sensitive feeling on the skin, the body aches, the slightly clogging nose, and of course, the slowly creeping chills and the increased temperature in my breath.
It's like all the adrenaline that has kept me up has suddenly run out or deserted me. And now I will need at least a full day's rest to get back on track.
This pattern has to change. I will break this vicious cycle.
For starters, I have watched myself work for the past week and I saw how an Other Business project in full swing can just sweep everything I have put in place and scatter them into chaos. I have repeatedly tried different ways to fix this but so far nothing has been effective enough. I will resolve this.
I have also experienced a wave of epiphanies as I pushed myself to focus on completing the presentation slides on time. This treasure of insights is motivating me now to fight the fever so I can start doing things to make my creative journey progress better.
My birthday is around the corner in a couple of weeks. I was originally planning to host a small gathering of friends but after my epiphanies I have decided to put the party off and do it later in the year -- still with the birthday occasion but it will also be a re-birthday event, a super perfect thing to do on this Year of Rebirth.
As a reward for completing the recent Other Business project, I subscribed to Indie Business : Compass and I can't wait to start with it. I also purchased Kelly Rae Robert's Flying Lessons: Part One. At some point I am beginning to see the same formula and patterns in what they are all teaching and sharing but what is enlightening is how they do it. Each teacher comes from a unique background and taken together, they point me to clues regarding my own unique story. Also sometimes, one teacher is better in driving home one point, while another excels in making a particular lesson crystal-clear.
I feel a bit sad about having to miss kendo practice tonight but I will make up for it for the whole 20 days before I leave for Hong Kong. Seriously. Because deep deep deep down inside I do care whether I pass the exam or not. Even when I keep telling other people it doesn't really matter.
I will sign off now. I'm starting to get really headachy. Will have an early night and wake up all brand new tomorrow morning!
Love and hugs to everyone!
Monday, October 31, 2011
where are the ghosts and the witches?
When I was still employed I would take a bit of trouble to celebrate Halloween in some way. It could be as simple as a movie marathon or a nice dinner or walking around the mall in some costume or watch the people who do walk around in costume. The point is, I celebrated it in one way or another.
Last year and this year I have become more domesticated and low-key. For starters, I will be cleaning the house today and will probably be starting on some overdue tasks for an on-going project. I will also probably run a couple of errands to the supermarket.
Yesterday I went to the new water spa place. It was my birthday gift to Mao and we spent about two hours trying out all the water massages and soaking in the herbal pools. We even took laps in the lapping pool (which made me start wondering about a membership of some form because the pool was perfect for working out).
Lunch was at Cafe Juanita where I made reservations a couple of days before so Mao can try out their super delicious buffet. The restaurant was not too full and therefore it was not too noisy and I got a good look at the latest redecorating done and there was an angel watching over us as we ate.
As we were nearing the end of lunch, I had become extremely sleepy from the spa and the food. The next order of the day was a nap back at my place.
By 5pm we were heading out again to check a few things out at the warehouse sale across the street then we went to Mao's house for a home-cooked birthday dinner treat by his mom. I finally got to meet his family and had long interesting conversations with his brothers. His mom cooked a really good dish of baby back ribs (and I got some for taking home when his mom offered it after dinner).
The rest of the evening was spent watching Transformers 3 on DVD and Kung Fu Panda 2. I fell asleep halfway through Kung Fu Panda 2.
I now read through what I have written and it reads like a very normal and sane day.
There is a part of me that wants to go tricking and treating. One way or another. There is a part of me that is as hungry as the ghosts that walk around this time of the year.
Last year and this year I have become more domesticated and low-key. For starters, I will be cleaning the house today and will probably be starting on some overdue tasks for an on-going project. I will also probably run a couple of errands to the supermarket.
Yesterday I went to the new water spa place. It was my birthday gift to Mao and we spent about two hours trying out all the water massages and soaking in the herbal pools. We even took laps in the lapping pool (which made me start wondering about a membership of some form because the pool was perfect for working out).
Lunch was at Cafe Juanita where I made reservations a couple of days before so Mao can try out their super delicious buffet. The restaurant was not too full and therefore it was not too noisy and I got a good look at the latest redecorating done and there was an angel watching over us as we ate.
As we were nearing the end of lunch, I had become extremely sleepy from the spa and the food. The next order of the day was a nap back at my place.
By 5pm we were heading out again to check a few things out at the warehouse sale across the street then we went to Mao's house for a home-cooked birthday dinner treat by his mom. I finally got to meet his family and had long interesting conversations with his brothers. His mom cooked a really good dish of baby back ribs (and I got some for taking home when his mom offered it after dinner).
The rest of the evening was spent watching Transformers 3 on DVD and Kung Fu Panda 2. I fell asleep halfway through Kung Fu Panda 2.
I now read through what I have written and it reads like a very normal and sane day.
There is a part of me that wants to go tricking and treating. One way or another. There is a part of me that is as hungry as the ghosts that walk around this time of the year.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
a quick sign off
I just came home from dinner and dessert. It's Mao's birthday and he treated the group at the banchetto in Metrowalk. Then we capped the night with dessert and coffee at Poco Deli, an Italian restaurant that serves the best chocolate cake I have ever tasted.
Will post more photos and stories tomorrow. Or rather, later today. Or maybe Monday if I get too busy doing Sunday stuff like family and water spa and lunch.
Will post more photos and stories tomorrow. Or rather, later today. Or maybe Monday if I get too busy doing Sunday stuff like family and water spa and lunch.
Monday, March 7, 2011
surprise pie
It's my sister's birthday today. So to give her a little surprise treat I baked her a berry pie - strawberry and blueberry. But I couldn't find the Betty Crocker Pie Crust mix in the supermarket so I made from scratch - and luckily it turned out alright, despite a rather crunchy edge (which my sister actually liked as they softened in the cream and filling).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)